Dover sees significant reduction in illegal signs

Monday

Oct 8, 2012 at 3:15 AM

DOVER — The Department of Planning and Community Development conducted an illegal sign sweep on Tuesday, Oct. 2.Director of Planning and Community Development Christopher Parker and Assistant City Planner Timothy Corwin collected a total of six signs. This represents a 33 percent reduction in the number of signs collected during the last sweep in May when nine signs were found, and a 73 percent reduction from the January sweep when 21 signs were found. Temporary signs advertising services or products not located on property owned by the creator of the signs are illegal. Most often these are found tacked to trees or utility poles, or posted to the ground in public rights-of-ways and medians. Department staff has made it a priority to rid the city of illegal off-site signs which may cause a safety hazard for traveling motorists or create a visual blight that is unsightly for residents. Illegal off-site signs also detract from legitimate business signs that have gone through the proper permitting process.“It appears that none of the signs we collected were for businesses located in Dover,” Parker said. The signs included advertising for stump grinding, firewood, and car detailing services from businesses located outside the community.“We’re very thankful that Dover’s business community is respectful of our regulations which prohibit off-site signage,” Parker said.Business owners who placed these signs were advised to remove the illegal signs in advance of this cleanup effort. Any sign that was confiscated will be held for 30 days prior to being recycled or destroyed, unless the sign is claimed by the owner after paying a reclamation fee based on the actual cost of man-hours and equipment use. Repeat offenders may be subject to prosecution and fines.This was the sixth sweep the Planning Department has conducted since the summer of 2011. Staff has been monitoring signs and holds the sweeps every few months. At the same time, efforts have been made to reach out to businesses to explain regulations and the safety concerns associated with the placement of signs within the right of way.Staff expects to conduct another sign sweep early next year and is hoping to find even fewer signs.“Our outreach and education efforts will continue not only with respect to illegal off-site signs, but all of our sign regulations,” Corwin said. “I think businesses are starting to understand that if you post an illegal sign in Dover, you’re going to lose it.”The Planning Department has a Facebook fan page in which residents can learn more about projects and applications. Additionally, the department has a twitter feed @DoverNHPlanning. For more information please call the Planning Department at 516-6008.